best range of budget bikes ?

builder22 · 25 Jul 2013 at 02:29

i see the supermarkets/halfords/argos and many more do really cheap bikes

looking to spend as little as possible really, only want the bike for keep fit purposes

can anyone recommend a specific brand/shop to go for ?

Saundie · 25 Jul 2013 at 06:45

Decathlon are pretty much the cheapest when it comes to new bikes that are worth having. The Halfords Carrera range is okay, though I'd stay away from their cheaper ranges. What's your budget, and which sort of bike (i.e. mountain, road, touring etc.) do you want?

Vonhelmet · 25 Jul 2013 at 07:28

Decathlon.

[DOD]Asprilla · 25 Jul 2013 at 07:55

Decathlon. Avoid the supermarket junk like the plague.

Also avoid suspension if you are spending as little as possible.

iguanoid · 25 Jul 2013 at 08:11

Another vote for Decathlon here.

Saytan · 25 Jul 2013 at 08:48

I volunteer at a bicycle re-use charity and we see a lot of supermarket bikes once they get to around 6 months, a year old and people ditch them

They are rubbish. Avoid.

builder22 · 25 Jul 2013 at 10:28

hadn't really thought about what kind, mountain bike probably, even though it'll mainly be used on roads/pavements

arknor · 25 Jul 2013 at 10:33

builder22 said:
hadn't really thought about what kind, mountain bike probably, even though it'll mainly be used on roads/pavements

if you don't want a road bike but will be sticking to roads/pavements and maybe the odd fairly smooth dirt trail then get a hybrid.
same wheel size as road bikes but tyres upto twice as wide and most have them have front suspension if you really want it.

but front suspension will just slow you down , on mine I can lock the front suspension so there's no travel and it makes pedalling so much easier.

if you just want something dirt cheap find out if there is anything like this place near you
http://www.recyke-y-bike.org/
they fix up and sell donated bikes , you can also pay to use their workshop and tools for uber cheap and they will guide you through any repairs if you don't know how

apeksdiver · 25 Jul 2013 at 10:37

As said already decathlon or the carrera range at halfords. That said my wife has been pleased with an aluminum framed apollo from halfords.

AndrewNR · 25 Jul 2013 at 16:04

I got an Apollo from Halfords 2 and a half years ago to go to and from work (3 miles a day) and it still functions well (despite never cleaning/servicing etc).

Cost me £80.

If I was doing longer distances Id want something better, mind.

builder22 · 1 Aug 2013 at 10:27

I'm not completely ignoring the advice given here, but this caught my eye whilst looking through the halfords website http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_922651_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

had a look at decathlon bikes but they seem to jump from 140 ish up to 260 with nothing in between, from what I could see anyway

PapaLazaru · 1 Aug 2013 at 10:40

If you want a road bike for peanuts, this looks damn good - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...|1&cm_re=10cms+slides-_-Slide+1-_-legacyzelos

Today only though. Am going to go down and have a look at one later.

Vonhelmet · 1 Aug 2013 at 13:37

PapaLazaru said:
If you want a road bike for peanuts, this looks damn good - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...|1&cm_re=10cms+slides-_-Slide+1-_-legacyzelos

Today only though. Am going to go down and have a look at one later.

Still not as good as the red Triban 3 from Decathlon! Not even close!

bignev72 · 1 Aug 2013 at 15:37

Vonhelmet said:
Still not as good as the red Triban 3 from Decathlon! Not even close!

They're white now

builder22 · 1 Aug 2013 at 15:39

would it be safe to say Raleigh aren't that good ?

can't find much good written about them anywhere, just thought with it being a 'famous brand' they'd be decent

arknor · 1 Aug 2013 at 15:42

bignev72 said:
They're white now

most stores still have the red ones in stock you can check on the decathlon website via the "my store" button at the top right

Vonhelmet · 1 Aug 2013 at 16:45

builder22 said:
would it be safe to say Raleigh aren't that good ?

No. They are making some good bikes now.

builder22 said:
can't find much good written about them anywhere, just thought with it being a 'famous brand' they'd be decent

I think they rested on their laurels for a while. They're picking their game up again, and starting to make some decent bikes. I think most of the good ones would be north of a grand, though.

Jonny ///M · 1 Aug 2013 at 21:15

Raleigh via Halfords will the same catalogue shop crap. Raleigh do sell great bikes through local shops.

They have a race team and are plugging the hell out of it. Shame the company leave a lot to be desired.

For an extra £50 on Halfords website you could get the Carrera subway LTD and it will be a lot better than the Raleigh you linked.

It's basically a rigid MTB with slick tyres so can take a punishment, the gearing is a lot better, the frame is a good alloy mtb frame vs cheap steel and the parts you can't see are better too.

builder22 · 2 Aug 2013 at 15:54

looking at spending at least £200 now, the subway had caught my eye yesterday actually
dug out my old specialized rockhopper today, and although the gears/crank etc are all worn (I remember taking it to get fixed ages ago and being told it was past economic repair) it still feels better than some cheap bikes I've tried

is the Carrera Subway Ltd the same sort of quality as my old rockhopper ?

edit - it's about a 1994 rockhopper btw!

Orion21 · 5 Aug 2013 at 19:16

I'm in the market for a bike to try and get fit, want a cheap one to start off with.

Any thoughts on the following 3 bikes for price and spec?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_922811_langId_-1_categoryId_165499

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/kemmel-id_8273887.html

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-50-men-id_8202062.html

Halfords bike is Raleigh Scafell and seems to be half price at the moment, so if people have thoughts on that compared to the 2 Decathlon bikes that would be good.